SCENE 01 / GRIP EQUIPMENT SERVICES
Grip Services
Professional grip crews and equipment for camera and lighting support across Australia.
Grip equipment services provide the mechanical support hardware and rigging that shapes light and positions cameras on set. In Australia, grip teams operate across world-class facilities including Fox Studios Sydney and Village Roadshow Studios, using stands, flags, frames, dollies, and specialized rigging to control light quality and enable precise camera placements.
We source grip equipment and experienced grip crews who understand the physical demands of professional set work. With packages available from rental houses like Panavision and Lemac, our team coordinates equipment with your key grip's specifications, ensuring all hardware arrives in working condition and meets Screen Australia safety standards.
Capabilities
Grip Department Solutions
From dolly operation to complex rigging, we provide experienced grip professionals and complete equipment packages for productions of any scale.
01
Camera Support
- Dolly and track systems
- Crane and jib operation
- Slider and motion control
- Specialty camera mounts
- Vehicle camera rigs
Camera Movement
02
Lighting Support
- Stands and rigging
- Diffusion and flag work
- Overhead frames
- Silk and bounce control
- Negative fill setups
Light Control
03
Rigging
- Truss and grid systems
- Safety rigging
- Overhead installations
- Set piece mounting
- Specialty rigging solutions
Structural Support
04
Specialty Grip
- Car and vehicle mounts
- Process trailer operation
- Greenscreen support
- Rain and wind effects
- Mechanical effects support
Specialty Solutions
On Location
Grip Equipment and Key Grips Across Australia
Here is how this works in practice. Our grip kit packages across Australia run the full feature standard: Fisher 10/11 dollies, Chapman PeeWee and Hybrid dollies, Panther rigs, Technocrane 30 and Technocrane 50, GFM jibs, Steadicam M2 with Tiffen Phantom 4 vests, Ronford Baker fluid heads, OConnor 2575D, and full butterfly/silk overhead frames sized 12x12 through 40x40 for outdoor diffusion.
Here is the short of it. Key grips work out of Sydney's Alexandria and Marrickville rental row through Panavision Australia, Lemac, KitWest, and Cinevex Melbourne. Gold Coast packages run from Village Roadshow Studios surrounds, sized for the global features the studio attracts — Aquaman, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales, Thor Love and Thunder, Elvis, and Furiosa. Brisbane and Adelaide pools cover regional shoots and SAFC-backed productions, while Perth crews handle Western Australian features around Margaret River, Ningaloo, Karijini, and the Pinnacles.
Here is the breakdown. The grip heritage in Australia anchors back through Mad Max Fury Road (Miller 2015, 6 Oscars including Production Design, Costume, Editing, Sound), Master and Commander (Weir 2003, Best Cinematography), Moulin Rouge! (Luhrmann 2001). The long Sydney run of Matrix trilogy (Wachowskis 1999-2003 — Fox Studios), Star Wars Episode II and III (2002 and 2005 — Fox), Mission Impossible 2 (2000), and Wolverine (2013).
Here is what that looks like on the ground. We set up Producer Offset and Location Offset paperwork through Screen Australia, MEAA crew agreements with reciprocal IATSE recognition for visiting global productions, Safe Work Australia compliance for working-at-height, scaffold, and rigging, and Aboriginal Land Council consultation for any country-bound shoot at Uluru-Kata Tjuta (UNESCO 1987), Kakadu (UNESCO 1981), or Purnululu (UNESCO 2003) where rigging access is restricted by Anangu and Bininj/Mungguy Classic Owner protocols.
FAQ
Our Grip Network
What does a grip department do?
The grip department supports both camera and lighting. They operate dollies, cranes, and camera support equipment for camera moves. They also handle all non-electrical lighting support: stands, rigging, diffusion frames, flags, and bounce/negative fill.
What positions are in a grip department?
Key Grip leads the department and works closely with the gaffer and DP. Best Boy Grip manages equipment and logistics. Dolly Grip operates camera dollies. Company Grips handle general grip work. Rigging Grips focus on pre-rigging and construction.
When do I need a grip vs. an electrician?
Electricians handle anything electrical—lights, power distribution, cables. Grips handle physical support and rigging—stands, camera movement equipment, flags, diffusion frames. The gaffer supervises electrics; the key grip supervises grip.
What equipment is included in grip packages?
Grip packages typically include C-stands, flags, nets, silks, bounce boards, apple boxes, sandbags, clamps, and basic rigging. Dollies, cranes, and specialty equipment are usually additional items quoted separately.
Do your grips have rigging certifications?
Yes. Our rigging grips hold appropriate certifications for overhead work, truss systems, and safety rigging. Complex rigging work is supervised by certified rigging supervisors meeting industry safety requirements.
Can you provide grip trucks with equipment?
We coordinate complete grip truck packages through our rental partners. These include the truck, driver, and comprehensive grip equipment. Crew is booked separately based on your production's needs.
Related Services
Productions in Australia that need this often pair it with Portable Power Solutions, Gaffer & Lighting Services, and LED Lighting Systems for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Lighting & Grip and Green Screen Filming.
On Set
Need a Grip Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend the right key grip and crew for your needs.